Book now for ORN Conference ‘Sustainable Outdoor Recreation'

Register Now! ORN 'Sustainable Outdoor Recreation' Conference
Date: Thursday 7th July 09:30 - Friday 8th July 2022 14:00
(Wednesday 6th July 19:30-22:00 ORN Member Meeting)
Location: Plas y Brenin - National Outdoor Centre, Betws-y-Coed LL24 0ET

The Outdoor Recreation Network (ORN) is holding its first in-person conference since before the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday 7^th – Friday 8^th of July at on the important topic of ‘Sustainable Outdoor Recreation’. One of our new members, Plas y Brenin, will host the event at their terrific gateway to Snowdonia National Park. This is the perfect location for this topic as the National Park is symbolic of the many sustainability related challenges the sector faces in the coming years.

One of our new members, Plas y Brenin, will host the event at their terrific gateway to Snowdonia National Park. This is the perfect location for this topic as the National Park is symbolic of the many sustainability related challenges the sector faces in the coming years.

A key focus of the new Action Plan 2022-2025 for ORN launching next month is sustainability – both in terms of balancing the benefits of outdoor recreation related tourism with the impact on nature and communities – and making the sector more sustainable through encouraging sustainable practices in participation and management and mapping the route to net-zero.

The ‘Sustainable Outdoor Recreation’ Conference will be the first event of the new Action Plan period – and our first in-person event for over two years!

The conference will explore ‘Sustainable Outdoor Recreation’ from the following perspectives, and make the most of the fantastic location via outdoor learning opportunities including site visits, walk-and-talk sessions, and outdoor activities!

Environmental Sustainability – long term planning and climate change, managing honey pot sites, promoting responsible reaction, and protecting vulnerable habitats.
Social Sustainability – embedding least restrictive access into recreation management practices and balancing other factors (agriculture and land use), and creating pathways to participating for marginalised individuals or communities.
Cultural Sustainability – reconciling the benefits of recreation with possible impact on local communities (e.g. displacement, gentrification, cultural homogenisation), deterring ‘quick hit’ extractive recreation practices and promoting close to home, and slow or shared travel.
Economic Sustainability – creating positive visitor pay back loops, supporting equal opportunities and career development for a local labour force.

First Keynote Speaker Announced
Janet Uttley
Head of Business Support Transformation Project, Visit England
We are delighted to be joined by Janet Uttley for the whole conference. Janet has over 25 years’ experience in the visitor economy, delivering marketing and PR campaigns for leading visitor attractions, before joining Visit England’s quality team to lead the visitor attraction quality assessment scheme. After a short break in the charity/youth sector, Janet returned to tourism in 2019 and played a key role in the development and delivery of the We’re Good to Go industry standard, which over 52,000 businesses have signed up to in order to demonstrate their commitment to COVID-19 public health protocols. Current projects include a review now underway of the main quality/star ratings and the new social tourism arm of the organisation, England for Everyone. She also works closely with the wider team to champion the sustainability and accessibility agendas for England.

ORN Complementary (Conference Only) Ticket - Free (limited)
1 - 2 complementary member (conference only) tickets. Details of how to obtain one of these tickets has been emailed to key contacts for distribution. This ticket provides access to the conference, site visits and post event resources but excludes the members dinner, informal networking dinner (which can be purchased separately via Eventbrite or Invoice).

ORN Members Networking Dinner (6th July) - £24.00
An opportunity to network with other members the evening before the conference. This ticket includes a two course meal and a complementary drink. This ticket can be booked via Eventbrite using the button below. Details of how to request an invoice for this ticket can also be found on Eventbrite.

Informal Conference Networking Dinner (7th July) - £30.00
An opportunity to network with others mid way through the conference. This ticket includes a three course meal and a complementary drink on arrival. This ticket can be booked via Eventbrite using the button below. Details of how to request an invoice for this ticket can also be found on Eventbrite.

RECOMMENDED: All Inclusive Conference Ticket - £335.00
This ticket provides access to the conference and both the members dinner 6th July and informal networking dinner on the 7th July. This ticket is for non members and staff of member organisations attending outside of the free quota. This ticket includes access to the conference, site visits and post event resources - This ticket can be booked via Eventbrite using the button below. Details of how to request an invoice for your ticket can also be found on Eventbrite.

Conference + Informal Networking Dinner (7th July) - £311.00
This ticket provides access to the conference and informal networking dinner on the 7th July but excludes the members dinner taking place on the 6th July. This ticket is for non members and staff of member organisations attending outside of the free quota. This ticket includes access to the conference, site visits and post event resources - This ticket can be booked via Eventbrite using the button below. Details of how to request an invoice for your ticket can also be found on Eventbrite.

Conference Only - £281.00
This ticket provides access to the conference but excludes the members dinner, informal networking dinner. This ticket is for non members and staff of member organisations attending outside of the free quota. This ticket includes access to the conference, site visits and post event resources - This ticket can be booked via Eventbrite using the button below. Details of how to request an invoice for your ticket can also be found on Eventbrite.

Accommodation
On Site Accommodation at Plas y Brenin
Plays y Brenin is the perfect place to stay during your time at the ORN conference. Accommodation in not included as part of your conference ticket and should be booked with he centre directly. There are a number of different accommodation options that can be booked of varying costs.

Phone: 01690 720214

Single: £80.00 inc. VAT
Twin (share with unknown person of the same sex from conference delegates): £45.00 inc. VAT
If you book this option and there is no person placed into your room you can avail of the cheaper price and will not need to pay the additional £75. Only people from the conference will be placed into shared twin rooms.
Twin (done as 1 booking): £120.00 inc. VAT
Moelwyn Bunk (16 bed bunk house): £42.00 inc. VAT

Outdoor Activities for Conference Delegates
Date: 7th July 2022

Activity: Open Water Swimming
An opportunity for delegates to take a fresh water dip ahead in Llynnau Mymbyr (also known as Capel Curig) ahead of the informal networking dinner. Set amongst Snowdonia's highest peaks, the lake is 3/4 mile long, with a depth of 30 feet. Magnificent views of the rugged mountain scenery are afforded across the lake to the Snowdon Horseshoe and the peaks of Grib Goch (3023ft/ 921mts); Crib y Ddysgl (3493ft/ 1065mts); Snowdon (3560ft/ 1085mts) and Lliwedd (2947ft/ 898mts). PYB will have a team of safety staff on hand keeping a watchful eye.

Activity: Famous faces - A behind the scenes tour of PYB
An opportunity for delegates to take a guided tour of the PYB centre. This tour will include a walk through the gallery of famous faces in mountaineering history and includes a look at some interesting artifacts linked to British Royalty.

Activity: Pre dinner walk - Coed Brun-engan
An opportunity for delegates to take a guided walk through the woods surrounding Capel Curig. This walk will afford some spectacular evening views of Snowdonia's highest peaks.

Getting to PYB

By Boat:
For those travelling from Ireland we encourage you to make use of the Irish Ferries crossing from Dublin and Holyhead. From the harbour it is a 40 minute drive to the centre.

By Plane:
There are a number of airports you can choose to fly into and hire a car - Liverpool, Manchester are the closest airports to the centre with approximately a 1 hour 50 min drive.

By Car:
We encourage delegates who are driving to car share where possible to do so. There is plenty of space to park at the centre.

By Train:
You can find details of the trains arriving into Betws y Coed Station on the trainline website: https://www.thetrainline.com/stations/betws-y-coed from the station you can take a local S1 bus or taxi to the centre.